to choke

Examples

• All

• While in vibrant and traffic-choked Amman, I could lose myself in the city's neighborhoods relatively unnoticed.

  Academic text (2009)

• When Sid bought the place, its grasslands were choked with dense pinyon-juniper woodlands.

  Academic text (2001)

• Cars powered by petrol and diesel will still choke congested roads in the world's great cities.

• Cars powered by petrol and diesel will still choke congested roads in the world's great cities.

• Aquatic plant life proliferates in this rich growth medium, choking out other species.

  Academic text (1996)

• The furthest engine on the right side of the plane starts choking and the propeller begins to slow.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Cars fill the suburban streets below, choking the parking lots of the supermarkets, ramped onto the pavements.

  Fiction book (1996)

• The poor design of the engine can choke its performance by limiting airflow.

• Debris can easily choke the air filter, causing the engine to stall.

• If the air supply is too restricted, it can choke the entire system, leading to failures.

Synonyms

C

to clog

vsto choke

21 3.2

To block a pipe or passage so flow stops

restricts air flow specifically in mechanical devices rather than blocking generally

C

to choke off

vsto choke

6 6.4

To stop a supply by blocking its source or flow

reduces air flow but does not necessarily stop the source or flow

T

to throttle

vsto choke

• Specialized

3 7.2

To reduce the flow of fuel or air to an engine to lower its power

reduces air flow in engines generally without focusing on power control

C

to choke up

vsto choke

1 5.8

To block a pipe or drain so water cannot pass through

reduces or restricts air flow instead of completely stopping passage

S

to strangulate

vsto choke

• Specialized

1 9.1

To squeeze an organ or blood vessel so blood cannot flow

acts on mechanical air flow by reducing it rather than squeezing biological vessels

Antonyms

A

to allow

∞ 1.0

To let something happen or let someone do something

U

to unblock

3 3.1

Remove something that stops a pipe, machine, or blood vessel from working

Idioms

C

to choke on one's words

1 7.8

To stop speaking because you feel nervous, embarrassed, or upset

C

to choke the chicken

• Offensive

9.9

To touch a man's penis to make him sexually excited

C

to choke a horse

• Informal

9.8

A very large amount of food that is more than one person can eat

Phrasal Verbs

C

to choke on

47 3.4

To have trouble breathing because food gets stuck in the throat

C

to choke up

16 4.6

To feel so upset that you cannot speak

C

to choke off

6 6.4

To stop a supply by blocking its source or flow

C

to choke back

4 7.0

Stop yourself from showing a feeling when you want to cry

C

to choke down

2 7.7

To stop yourself from showing strong feelings like sadness or anger

C

to choke out

1 7.4

Say something with great difficulty because you feel upset or nervous

C

to choke under pressure

• Informal

1 7.0

Perform badly because of nervousness in an important situation

C

to choke up

1 5.8

To block a pipe or drain so water cannot pass through

C

to choke out a laugh

7.0

To manage a short laugh when you feel surprised or shocked

C

to choke under pressure

• Specialized

5.4

Stop working or work badly when there is too much demand

Compounds

C

choke hold

• NSFW

7 7.5

A tight arm around someone's neck from behind to stop them moving or make them pass out

A

automatic choke

• Archaic

1 6.8

A device in a car engine that automatically reduces air so the engine starts easily when cold

C

choke-full

7.0

Filled so tightly that there is no space left

C

choke coil

• Specialized

7.7

A coil that lets direct current pass but reduces alternating current in a circuit

How Restricted

to block

∞ 3.0

to choke

• Specialized

33 5.3

to constrict

30 5.6

to restrict

361 3.1

to reduce

∞ 1.6

Surface Forms

Etymology